In 2008, in the basement AV room of the public library, my dad handed me a couple CDs he thought I might like: Paramore’s Riot and Taylor Swift’s Fearless. It’s been 16 years, and I love my public library (and Taylor Swift) more than ever. If you, like me, have never been able to go to one of her shows and you, like me, wish her merch was a bit more accessible ($75 for a t-shirt, Taylor?), we hope you’ll enjoy making these Taylor-themed scrunchies and headbands! Continue reading “DIY Swiftie Scrunchies and Headbands”
Do you need help preparing for the ACT test? We have compiled a list of resources to help you navigate this important college entrance exam.
What is the ACT?
The ACT exam is a standardized test required for admission at many colleges and universities. The exam covers four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading and science.
How much does it cost?
It costs $69 to take the ACT exam; this cost increases to $94 if you are required to take the writing test. A fee waiver is available for low-income students; however, ACT requires that you meet with your guidance counselor to see if you qualify.
Where can I take the ACT exam?
The ACT test is offered at several locations throughout Boone and Callaway counties, including most public high schools. Search online to find a testing location near you. Continue reading “ACT Test Prep Resources @ DBRL”
We had so many excellent book reviews lately that we just had to share! This time we are highlighting the classics and one classic retelling. Even though a few of these books have been around for a while our teens still loved or at least tolerated them. What classics have you picked up recently? Tell us about them in the comments or submit your own reader review. Remember if you include your email address and we use your review in a blog post we’ll send you a coupon for a free book!
5/5 Stars ★★★★★ Continue reading “Teen Reader Reviews: Classics”
“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy is the most influential movie series I have ever seen. Given this fact, you cannot imagine how excited I was when “The Hobbit” movies were announced. My 12-year-old self was ecstatic. I wrote the date for the first one in my parent’s calendar and reminded them of it at least once a week. I remember practically vibrating with joy as I sat in the theater waiting for it to start. And boy was I disappointed. After the first movie, I was upset, but not terribly. “I’m sure it will only get better!” I remember thinking. “Nowhere to go but up!” After the second, I was distraught. “What did they do to one of my favorite books?” I said to myself, “The third one will be amazing. It has to be, after that.” Little did I know. By the third, I was mad. I felt oddly betrayed by just how bad the franchise ended up being. To this day, ten years, later, I absolutely despise “The Hobbit” movies. How could something that I was so ready to love become one of my most hated pieces of media? Read on to find out. Continue reading “Why I Hate The Hobbit Movies”
You are not too old to read a picture book. I know this because you are reading this blog post right now and therefore, presumably, still alive and not too old to read. And if you are a ghost, then it’s pretty wild that you can still access the internet and you’re using your afterlife to read the teen library blog, but if you can do that then you probably can and still should read a picture book. Because, just like their cousins graphic novels, picture books are capable of addressing any and every topic, and the format forces creators to communicate their ideas in the minimum amount of words and pictures. In great picture books, you can tell that every word and image is carefully considered and that there is nothing extraneous. Constraints produce great art, this is a fact, and I can prove it in six books. Continue reading “You Should Read a Picture Book”
We had 61 people compete in this year’s Cosplay Costume Contest and they were all wonderful and unique! After much deliberation, we have chosen this year’s winners. Thanks to our judges and all of our participants! Continue reading “2024 Cosplay Winners”
We are excited to announce that we have the winners of this year’s Teen Photo Contest! We had 14 entries and they were all stellar! The teens have submitted their photographic interpretations of this year’s Summer Reading theme “Adventure Begins at Your Library” and after much deliberation, we have selected this year’s winners. Below are the top three winners. Continue reading “2024 Teen Photo Contest Winners”
Our annual cosplay contest is fast approaching! On Monday, July 29th dress up as your favorite character, be it superhero, anime, sci-fi or your own original persona. We’ll award prizes for the best costumes and characterization in different age categories, so be ready to show off your cosplay game!
The program is for all ages. Photos and registration will begin at 6 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. by a runway show. The winners are determined by our panel of amazing judges who are plenty strong in their own cosplay skills and fandom knowledge. Continue reading “Cosplay 2024 – Meet the Judges”
Did you know the Missouri River — also belovedly known as the Big Muddy, the Mighty Mo, and Mnišoše (“turbid water”) by the Dakota and Lakota — is the longest river on the North American continent?! This wide river of silt and sediment churns its way for over 2000 miles from western Montana down across and through six other states to merge with the Mississippi and on to the Gulf of Mexico, and its watershed drains around 1/6 (!!!) of the United States’ landmass over an area of 500,000 square miles. If you’re not a numbers person (🎶it’s me, hiiiiiii!🎶), here’s a visual representation of the breadth of the Missouri’s drainage basin, highlighted in light green below:
It will never not be astonishing to me that here in Mid-Missouri we are so close to such a robust and essential body of water and river-system, one that I believe deserves our reverence and respect. If you feel the same way, I encourage you to participate in Dear Body of Water, a communal interdisciplinary art project dreamed up from the scientifically poetic mind and experience of Gretchen E. Henderson. Continue reading “dear body of water: a poetic water-harvesting project 🌊”
Obviously, I am an avid lover of books. In fact, I love books so much that I am one of those people who thinks that the book is almost always better than the movie. Don’t get me wrong, I love adaptations; There are some that are incredibly well done. For instance, the new Percy Jackson series on Disney Plus is insanely good. They did a fantastic job capturing what made the books so magical for so many people. But generally, no matter how good I think a movie is, I still tend to think the book is better. There is just something about the medium of literature that cannot be outdone. This fact holds true for everything except one of my all-time favorite series: “The Lord of the Rings.” If I believe that books are better than movies nine out of ten times, why would I change my mind for arguably one of the most influential series of the 20th century? Read on to uncover the mystery. Continue reading “Why “The Lord of the Rings” Movies are Better Than the Books”
